Bale Becomes Playable Character in Golf Video Game

Golf - European Tour - BMW PGA Championship - Wentworth, Virginia Water, Britain - September 14, 2023 Former footballer Gareth Bale is seen during the first round Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/file photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Golf - European Tour - BMW PGA Championship - Wentworth, Virginia Water, Britain - September 14, 2023 Former footballer Gareth Bale is seen during the first round Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/file photo Acquire Licensing Rights
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Bale Becomes Playable Character in Golf Video Game

Golf - European Tour - BMW PGA Championship - Wentworth, Virginia Water, Britain - September 14, 2023 Former footballer Gareth Bale is seen during the first round Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/file photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Golf - European Tour - BMW PGA Championship - Wentworth, Virginia Water, Britain - September 14, 2023 Former footballer Gareth Bale is seen during the first round Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/file photo Acquire Licensing Rights

Gareth Bale's love for golf has been well-documented and the former Real Madrid and Wales forward has swapped the pitch for the green after becoming a playable character in the PGA Tour 2K23 video game.

Bale, 34, made his PGA Tour debut at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February after calling time on his glittering soccer career at the start of the year. He also teed off alongside Rory McIlroy at this week's BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am.

His passion for the sport often led to criticism while he was in Madrid, especially in 2019 after he celebrated with a Welsh flag which read: "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order."

The former Wales captain, who featured on the cover of Electronic Arts' FIFA 14 video game alongside Lionel Messi, has now been added to PGA Tour 2K23, which includes a course custom-designed by him.

"I'm Gareth Bale. I'm here getting scanned in PGA Tour 2K23," he said in a video shared on social media, Reuters reported

Bale played for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur before joining Real in 2013 for a then-world record deal worth 100 million euros ($106.55 million), where he won five Champions League titles among several other major honours.

He led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals and to their first World Cup since 1958 at last year's tournament in Qatar. Bale's tally of 111 caps and 41 international goals are both records for the Wales men's team.



Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo to Return on January 17-18

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA
Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA
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Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo to Return on January 17-18

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA
Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, the world’s first organized desert polo tournament, will return to AlUla from January 17 to 18, 2025, offering a spectacular celebration of top-class sport, culture, and equestrian heritage.
Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village within the stunning surroundings of the ancient oasis city.
"This tournament has become a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s sports and social calendar, showcasing the unique blend of tradition and modernity that defines our region,” said Chief Sports Officer at the RCU Ziad AlSuhaibani.

“We look forward to continuing to inspire, connect, and elevate the global appreciation of equestrian sports, while aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030's goals of enhancing cultural tourism and offering world-class sporting experiences in the Kingdom,” he added.
Richard Mille is returning as the title sponsor of the event, underscoring the brand’s commitment to excellence in sports and events as well as reinforcing its partnership with this one-of-a-kind polo tournament.
The two-day event will feature a blend of world-class polo, history, heritage, and glamour, making it an unmissable occasion on Saudi Arabia’s sports and social calendar.
Some of the top players in global polo are set to participate in the tournament, including Argentine world-famous polo player Adolfo Cambiaso, founder and captain of La Dolfina Polo Team.
Joining Cambiaso in AlUla will be his son Adolfo "Poroto" Cambiaso and his daughter Mia Cambiaso. Other notable players include Nacho Figueras – dubbed the “David Beckham of polo” – and Pablo Mac Donough. Additionally, more professional female players will again participate after their debut at the 2024 tournament.
The event will feature six teams of three players, comprising one professional, one international patron, and one dignitary. Two days of action-packed matches will see the teams battle for the prestigious Desert Polo trophy.